Fast & Easy Holiday Baking with Reynolds

Tags

Allrecipes, Allrecipes Allstars, Allrecipes.com, chocolate, Chocolate Mint Crinkles, Chocolate Peanut Butter Blossoms, Cookies, Holiday Baking, Parchment Paper, Reynolds

I just love holiday baking!

Every year I try at least one new recipe. This year I tried a couple new recipes – but I also tried a new way of baking.

As part of the Allrecipes.com Allstars brand ambassador program that I belong to, Reynolds recently sent me some parchment paper to use in my cookie baking.

I should tell you that I have never understood the appeal of liners for cookie sheets – parchment paper or silicon mats – but then I have also never had any problems with cookies sticking to my baking sheets.

What I do have are stained baking sheets from overuse. And without the joy of a dishwasher cookie pans are always tough to get clean.

To try out the parchment paper, Reynolds gave us a choice of several recipes. I am partial to chocolate cookies so the recipes I chose reflect that taste.

These cookies are fast and easy – so if you are looking for some last minute selections to leave out for the big guy or to just have some treats to serve up for guests who pop by in the next several days these are both great choices.

I love the combination of mint and chocolate (especially at the holidays) so these Chocolate Mint Crinkle Cookies were an obvious choice for me.

And they are just like magic when they flatten up in the oven to create that crinkled look.

These turned out a bit minty for me so I would probably cut the mint flavor in half if I made them again.

But they are a wonderful choice for displaying on a platter at the holidays because they are so beautiful.

Peanut butter blossoms have always been my hands-down favorite cookie at the holidays and otherwise.

So when I saw these Chocolate Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies I just knew I had to make them.

I was a bit skeptical with the added chocolate to the dough. I was afraid that the extra chocolate would overpower the peanut butter taste.

I could not have been more wrong! They are just perfect! And the dark chocolate kiss (instead of the milk chocolate) is a welcome change since, personally, I much prefer the taste of dark to milk.

I know I may be in the minority here but for me, the darker the chocolate the better.

These are definitely a keeper!

And the Reynolds parchment paper worked wonders! I am a convert!

The cookies baked up perfectly and kept the trays so clean. And the sheets of parchment just slid right off the baking pan.

What are you baking up this holiday season? Do you use parchment paper when you bake?

Disclosure: I am an Allrecipes Allstar brand ambassador (a voluntary position) and I’m not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from Reynolds were only used for experienced-based reviews on KristinPotPie. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are based purely on my own opinions. To learn more about the Allrecipes Allstars program visit, Allrecipes Allstars.

Beauty by Vera

Tags

Hair, home services, Makeover, makeup, Vera Beautify Seattle

I went to my office holiday party this last week, an evening event – timed for right after work. Since I am working with some looming deadlines and had a multitude of tasks to accomplish, I decided that I would work right up until I had to leave the office for the party.

About ten minutes before I needed to head out to the event, I found myself rushing to the ladies room to quickly change into my fancy dress, dab a bit of color on my lips and cheeks, brush mascara onto my lashes and finger comb my unruly locks of hair into a smoother version of a birds nest.

Does this sound like a familiar scenario to you? It was fine – I looked fine (got plenty of compliments on my dress!) – but I had a thought that there could be a better way to set myself up for a fun night of revelry.

A more calm, relaxed way. One that really gets me in the mood to celebrate – And one that can involve a glass of bubbly!

Enter Vera Beautify. A new service in Seattle that allows you to go online, peruse their selection of stylists – complete with reviews and photos, choose one that fits your needs and book a service (updo, blow-out or makeup) to be performed in the comfort of your own home.

I recently had a makeover from Vera Beautify with Ashli who came to my home to do my hair and makeup.

She arrived punctually and was set up in no time – while I poured myself a glass of sparkling wine! All she needed was a clear workspace with a flat surface, chair, a mirror and some light.

It was so indulgent! She started with aroma-therapy and a light neck massage.

How relaxing! Ashli was so warm and friendly. And her focus was on my needs and comfort.

While Ashli worked on my blowout we talked like we had known each other for years.

We talked about everything from hair and makeup (of course), blogging and family, to the arts and even philosophy.

She just made me feel so comfortable – and at home!

And, oh how she pampered me with the gentle strokes of her make-up brushes – I felt like a queen!

While I hardly ever wear makeup, she told me how fortunate I was to have the lashes I have and made me promise to at least apply mascara when I go out – I’ve been keeping my promise Ashli!

She primped…

and primped!

Until ta-da!

Ashli transformed my look better than I could have ever imagined! I did not feel “done up” – I was still me – but a much better, more polished me!

Now I just need my fancy dress!

 

Toasting to Fall with a TRIbella Giveaway!

Tags

Aerator, holidays, Hostess Gift, perfect pour, Red wine, Stocking Stuffer, Thanksgiving, Tribella, wine

The weather here in Seattle this fall has been just gorgeous.

Aside from the sun setting earlier, sunny days and temperatures in the 70’s tricked my brain into thinking that it was still summer.

Then the rain came and I snapped out of it.

Though I am still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Halloween is next week (followed closely on its heels by Thanksgiving and the holidays!), for me the loss of summer has led to a preoccupation with one thing – holiday entertaining will soon be upon us!

And with that, red wine drinking season will also be in full swing – As the colder weather settles in many shed their Roses and Chardonnays for the warmth and more full-bodied flavor of various red options.

Whether you are entertaining this holiday season and want to delight your guests with the perfect pour, or you are attending a soiree and need an elegant gift for the wine lover in your life, the TRIbella™ wine aerator will put the festive in your festivities. Presented with a bottle of red, this would make for a much appreciated hostess gift. Alone, it is a terrific stocking stuffer.

TRIbella™ is wine aeration made beautiful. This patented, trademarked, and innovative aerator, launched in 2014 and designed and engineered in Portland, Oregon is a simple, yet fine-tuned device, created for everyday use. The TRIbella™ allows wine to be poured in three elegant and drip-free streams and to naturally breathe while it falls gracefully into your glass.

TRIbella™ exposes wine to air to open up and enhance the flavor of the wine creating a more pleasant experience with beauty and elegance.

TRIbella™ allows wine lovers to enjoy their wine with a blend of art and science and is now available on Amazon and through select wine sellers. It even comes in its own protective carrying case so you can take the perfect pour anywhere.

In celebration of the fall season and the upcoming holidays, TRIbella™ is offering a free TRIbella™ Wine Aerator to one of my lucky readers!

To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment here on the blog telling me – what are you pouring this Thanksgiving or fall?

For extra entries (you must leave a comment here on the blog for each of these you do):

• Like KristinPotPie on Facebook
• Follow KristinPotPie on Twitter
• Follow KristinPotPie on Instagram
• Like TRIbella on Facebook
• Follow TRIbella on Twitter
• Follow TRIbella on Instagram

This giveaway will end Midnight Pacific Time, Thursday, October 30. I will choose one winner from the comments on my blog Friday morning and will email the winner. Winner will have 24 hours to respond before I choose an alternate winner.

Good luck!

Photos taken by, and used with permission of, Richard Brown Photography.

Prost! – Oktoberfest Northwest 2014

Tags

beer, Chicken dance, Family event, German food, Hammerschlagen, Manuela Horn, Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest Northwest, Puyallup

I just love this time of year! With our German heritage, my family and I enjoy celebrating Oktoberfest each and every fall.

Some years that means hosting a gathering at our house (here are some ideas for hosting your own!), some years we just make a special intimate dinner with a smaller crowd (serving this authentic rouladen recipe!) and some years we make the trek to Leavenworth for their big multi-weekend event.

But last year we decided to try something different.

Longing to enjoy a big to-do, but not really wanting to expense a whole weekend east of the mountains (it gets pricey with a two-night minimum stay on festival weekends), we checked out the festivities at Oktoberfest Northwest held at the Washington State Fair & Event Center in Puyallup, WA.

And we were not disappointed!

This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of this fun indoor event and I hope you will join me in the revelry!

Event Dates:
October 3-5, 2014
Event Hours:
Friday- Noon – midnight
Saturday – 11a – midnight
Sunday – 11a – 6pm

Location:
Washington State Fair and Events Center in Puyallup

Admission:
FREE on Friday from noon-3pm
Regular Price after 3pm on Friday and all day Saturday ($10)
Sunday HALF PRICE all day ($5) courtesy of Alaska Airlines and The News Tribune
Children 12 and under FREE ALL WEEKEND

The biergarten certainly is impressive, but to keep us all safe please be smart about your transportation plan –  there are free soft drinks or drip coffee for those who sign up as a designated driver.

Families are welcome in the Festhalle Biergarten until 7 p.m. each evening (Sunday, families are welcome all day!); for the remainder of the evening, guests must be 21 years of age or older.

And there are plenty of activities for the whole family!

The German School of Tacoma will be on site with special arts and crafts projects.

Kids won’t want to miss the opportunity to take part in an authentic May Pole dance with members of the Enzian Schuhplattler Dancers, pumpkin decorating and games like Corn Hole Toss and more.

On Saturday and Sunday only there will also be free face painting and an ALL-NEW Scavenger Hunt with a fun prize for every child who participates while supplies last.

Kids can pick up their Scavenger Hunt instructions at the Root Bier Garden between noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The game, Hammerschlagen, is a popular activity at Oktoberfest. The goal is to drive a nail into a cross-section of wood faster than your opponent.

Each year the Best of the Best compete for a space in the Hammerschlagen Tournament of Champions Wall of Champions.

Who will be champion in 2014? Could it be you? Sign up on site at the event for your chance at bragging rights, glory, and a whole mess of great prizes.

2014 Prizes:
1st place: $150 and commemorative Seahawks Super Bowl Champion  stein
2nd place: $50 and event stein
3rd place: event stein

Children are encouraged to not play Hammerschlagen in the adult area for safety reasons.

There is a Kids Hammerschlagen with kid-sized hammers and easy to hit nails (children need to be supervised by an adult to play)!

Find that perfect gift for someone (or yourself!) while wandering among all of the great souvenirs at the German Corner.

The German Corner features everything from steins to cookbooks to authentic German clothing. Browse their selection ahead of time at www.germanplaza.com

I plan on buying one of these cute little purses this year! I do hope they have them again!

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Entertainment at Oktoberfest Northwest keeps the party going all day long and late into the night!

Whether you’re looking to sway to the sounds of Edelweiss, get plucky with the Chicken Dance or hit the dance floor to the late hours of the night, Oktoberfest Northwest has it all!

On Friday, October 3, at 6:15pm join in the fun as they tap the Oktoberfest Firkin to officially open Oktoberfest Northwest!

And don’t miss  the swing girl! Manuela Horn & her Oktoburlesques! At nearly seven feet tall, this Austrian Amazon will perform yodelicious interpretations of new & classic Top 40 hits.

Manuela is the Queen of Oktoberfest.  With the motto “It’s always Oktoberfest somewhere,” Manuela emcees and headlines the biggest Oktoberfests across America.

Oh! And the FOOD! My goodness!

You want brats and beer? You’ve got it.

Plus pretzels, schnitzel, strudel, and a whole list of other authentic German treats! Like the tasty Cabbage Rous (Kraut Roulden) in tomato sauce, and the Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancake) served with apple sauce and sour cream!

German food heaven!

Also back by popular demand this year is the Oktoberfest Northwest Running of the Wieners!

Multiple races, costume contests, great fun for the whole family in a stadium atmosphere right inside the heart of the event.

This is a Sunday-only attraction. Go here for more details or to register your wiener. Click here for a schedule of events!

Don’t forget – admission if free on Friday (today!) until 3 pm – so hurry down (and maybe we can do the chicken dance together!) See you there!

 

Locally Brewed Cupcakes at Cupcake Royale

Tags

Cupcake Royale, cupcakes, fall, Fall flavors, locally brewed, Oktoberfest

I know it still feels like summer today, but fall really is just around the corner. Labor Day is coming up this weekend and the kids are getting ready to return to school – mine go next week. Are yours already in school? Frankly I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that both of mine are in high school this year. How did that happen?!

I love the sunshine and carefree days of summer, but this time of year is truly my favorite. The rich flavors of the season take me back to so many happy times in my life:

Growing up, the German Chocolate Cake my mother would lovingly make each year for my birthday in late August.

How I met and fell in love with my husband in the fall and we (both of German decent) celebrate Oktoberfest with our children each year – complete with my great grandmother’s German apple cake.

And pumpkin reminds me of the days when the kids were little and we would go out to the pumpkin patch at a local farm and pick our own pumpkin – happily munching on lovely Washington apples and pears and bringing home some fresh-pressed cider for later.

So when I recently received a visit from the “cupcake fairy” at work it had me really looking forward to autumn. My friends over at Cupcake Royale generously sent me a sneak taste of their delicious fall offerings and there is a bonus – these cupcakes come locally brewed! With these cupcakes you can have your booze and eat it too!

Celebrate the Fall Harvest and Seattle’s best craft breweries with Cupcake Royale’s Locally Brewed Cupcakes! They baked up a whole new line of cupcakes, just in time for Oktoberfest! Their master bakers brought in the master brewers from Elysian, Hilliard’s, 2 Beers, Seattle Cider Co., and Finnriver Cider to create four new cupcakes; Caramel Brandied Pear, Pumpkin Ale, Tipsy Apple, and German Chocolate Stout.

Caramel Brandied Pear –A vanilla cupcake filled with a ginger and pear compote, topped with Finnriver’s Pear Brandy buttercream and pear caramel drizzle. Cupcake Royale uses Finnriver’s Pear Brandy to really amplify the pear flavor. It’s sweet, thick and SUPER aromatic, as well as flavorful.  They’ve always been fond of Simple and Crisp pear chips and wanted to incorporate them into something really special, so to top this off, they have a pear chip streusel that they feel does the locally made product justice!

Pumpkin Ale –A Pacific Northwest pumpkin spice cupcake, topped with an Elysian’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale buttercream and candied spiced pumpkin seeds. Made with fresh pumpkin puree that is special ordered months in advance from Stahlbush Island Farms in Oregon. A favorite pumpkin beer amongst the baking staff is Elysian’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale because it is not overly sweet or spicy. After testing many an ale, they knew Elysian was the winner! We all love something crunchy to snack on while drinking our brew, so they got busy in the bakeshop and candied some pumpkin seeds with salt and spices – Happy Hour cupcakes anyone?

Tipsy Apple –An apple cupcake topped with Finnriver’s Apple Cider buttercream and apple cider caramel drizzle. Made with apples that are picked right here in Washington! The apples are shredded seconds before they are added to the batter, maintaining the crunch and texture. The effervescent Finnriver apple cider is reduced down to a syrup then added to Cupcake Royale’s legendary buttercream. For even more apple booziness, it is drizzled with a cider caramel! How about them apples?

German Chocolate Stout – A moist chocolate stoutcake made with 2 Beers’ Jive Oatmeal Espresso Milk Stout and filled with the traditional German Chocolate Cake’s coconut frosting topped with chocolate buttercream, toasted coconut chips, and chocolate curls. Cupcake Royale knows their chocolate cake is already Seattle’s best, so the only ingredient that could make it better is STOUT BEER!  Beer makes the cake super moist and hoppy, almost tangy! A sweet, creamy brown sugar, coconut and walnut filling might sound over-the-top, but they’ve added some sea salt to curb the sweetness and balance the flavors. This is a more sophisticated German Chocolate Cake – Royale Style! Bottoms Up!

Locally Brewed Cupcakes will be available in all Cupcake Royale cafes September 10 through October 31.

Yuan Spa Giveaway for Mother’s Day

Tags

Bellevue, Giveaways, Hydrotherapy, Mom, Mother's Day, Recharge, Spa, Yuan Spa

I spent most of last week recovering from producing one of the biggest events of our annual cycle of events at work. I had worked the entire weekend before, so I was exhausted and trying in vain to catch up on so much that I had put off at home and at work – yard work, unanswered emails, putting away my Easter decorations, writing projects, the list goes on and on.

But I did take a few hours out just for me to refresh and recharge my batteries. I was lucky enough to be treated to a hydrotherapy session at Yuan Spa in Bellevue. Ahhhhhhh! Just what a busy mom needs!

Such a beautiful spa – I walked in and instantly felt my shoulders relax – and an incredibly friendly staff. What a treat this was!

This week I am offering a chance for you to win a hydrotherapy session for your mom – or yourself!

Situated in the heart of downtown Bellevue, Yuan Spa, offers guests communal bathing, holistic healing, massage, and advanced skin care. The 8,000 square foot facility invites guests to a place of tranquil sophistication seven days a week from 10am to 10pm.

A proven pioneer in the Puget Sound region in combining traditional and authentic Asian healing therapies with a Western approach to health and well-being, Yuan Spa Owner Zee Zhang and staff are dedicated to the belief that health and wellness are reflections of our commitment to creating a balance between expending and restoring our human energy.

If you have never done hydrotherapy, you must try it and discover the healing benefits of their beautiful hydrotherapy setting. This urban water sanctuary soothes your body and soul, making it a wonderful prelude to a treatment or great all on its own. Some of the benefits include muscular stimulation, absorption of elements, detoxification, and skin conditioning.

The hydrotherapy circuit at Yuan features:

• Cedar Sauna Room
• Eucalpytus Steam Room
• Salt Scrub Bar
• Hot Bathing Pool – 104 degrees
• Cool Sea Salt Bathing Pool
• Relaxation Lounge (with healthy snacks!)

This Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11) and throughout the entire month of May, celebrate mom’s (or those who play a significant role in your life) special day with a day to remember, hours to savor, an experience to enjoy at Yuan Spa with various offerings.

They include:

Mommy Dearest – Mom will be treated to Hydrotherapy and the Pure HydraFacial, 45 minutes of pure bliss, followed by a 60-minute massage of her choice (choose from Swedish, Deep Tissue or the spa’s Signature). This package is worth bestowing upon your dearest mama. ($280)

Mother Appreciation – Mom will enjoy Hydrotherapy and the Eminence Body Service, 60-minutes of ahh-time, followed by another 60-minutes of a focus on her face with Yuan-Spa’s Signature Facial. Did someone say ‘mom’ time? ($250)

The Mom and Me Package is a lovely way to spend the day together with your mom. The package includes: Hydrotherapy, a Signature Facial for a full hour, and Signature Pedicure, yes, 60 minutes on your feet alone. This pampering package is just what mom deserves, to show mom how much you adore and appreciate her and all that she does for you. ($194 per person)

All Mother’s Day packages include a glass of wine and each package price is based per person. Packages can be scheduled by calling the spa or purchased as a Gift Certificate from May 1 through 31.

For other services offered, peruse the menu at www.yuanspa.com. To purchase gift certificates at Yuan Spa or to purchase any of the Mother’s Day packages, please call (425) 449-8788.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, the wonderful folks over at Yuan Spa are offering one hydrotherapy pass to one of my lucky readers ($39 value.) What a great gift this would be for your mother or to enjoy yourself!

To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment here on the blog telling me what you love best about mom.

For extra entries (you must leave a comment here on the blog for each of these you do):

• Like KristinPotPie on Facebook
• Follow KristinPotPie on Twitter
• Like Yuan Spa on Facebook
• Follow Yuan Spa on Twitter

This giveaway will end Midnight Pacific Time, Thursday, May 8. I will choose one winner from the comments on my blog Friday morning and will email the winner. Winner will have 24 hours to respond before I choose an alternate winner.

This giveaway is open to local residents only. You must be able to redeem your prize at Yuan Spa in Bellevue.

Good luck!

Easter Dinner With a Little Help from Whole Foods Market

Tags

Crepes, Dinner, Easter, eggs, Free Strawberry Tart, Frittata, Ham, Lamb, Mango, Mimosas, spring, Whole foods Market

My newly employed 16 year old son has to work on Easter, so I am hosting the holiday dinner this year.

I don’t know about you, but there is always a ham on my Easter table, so I wanted to tell you about the special Easter Bundle Deal Whole Foods Market is running: 

On April 18 and 19th, get a free large strawberry tart when you buy any spiral sliced ham from Whole Foods Market’s meat department. 

Spring is all about new – fresh buds, sprouting blooms and (finally!) a change in weather. Bring some change to classic holiday recipes for Easter with simple ideas from Whole Foods Market. Drawing on global influences, lighter ingredients, flavor fusion, and the spiral ham deal you can’t miss, these inspired ideas give tradition a twist.

Check out this round up of brunch-basics for great menu ideas, especially these updated holiday favorites:

• Mango Mimosas – greet guests with an unexpected, tropical twist in their brunch beverage

• Ham and Rhubarb Jam Toasties – Easter ham gets a flavor upgrade with sweet-tart rhubarb jam. Rhubarb is an exciting ingredient only available in spring.

• Inside-Out Easter Eggs — these deviled eggs put the color inside the egg with the addition of beets to a classically creamy yolk filling. Look for precooked, peeled beets in the produce section.

• Deviled Frittata – update both a deviled egg and a frittata by combining the familiar flavors into one dish. Rich egg yolks, tart yellow mustard, creamy mayonnaise and sweet paprika flavor this easy frittata.

Order online for the most modern upgrade – skip the prep time and focus on family time with a little help from Whole Foods Market’s online ordering. Choose from two complete menus for four, starring either maple-mustard glazed ham, or quiche and smoked salmon.

HOLIDAY CROSSOVERS – These crowd-pleasing dishes are great for entertaining during Easter, Passover or any special occasion.

• Smoked Salmon Crepes with Creamed Peas – these whole wheat crêpes are filled with smoked salmon and topped with a creamy mixture of peas and dill. Matzoh fans can make a rustic version of these crêpes using matzoh meal.

• Leg of Lamb with Mint Salsa Verde – lamb is a traditional springtime protein, appropriate for both holidays. Mint is a classic flavor combination remixed into this fresh salsa verde.

What are you serving for Easter this year?

Photos used with permission of Whole Foods Market.

For the Love of Chocolate – the Return of the Deathcake!

Tags

chocolate, Cupcake Royale, cupcakes, Deathcake Originale, Deathcake Royale, Love, Seattle, Valentine's Day

Looking for ways to give some love this Valentine’s holiday? The Deathcake Royale is back and deathier than ever!

Last year around this time I admitted to my deep and abiding love affair with chocolate, and revealed to you the one treat that I would die for, the Deathcake Royale – a Cupcake Royale exclusive, available for a limited time.

Well, I have fallen even further!

The Deathcake Royale has returned again, as it does each year in honor of Valentine’s Day. BUT this year, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Cupcake Royale, it is joined by the return of the Originale. The one that started it all!

I received a sample of this decadent little treat (with HUGE chocolate flavor) during the height of my work haze last month as I planned the Opening Night Party at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, and it was my savior through the crazy town that is event planning. (But I do love it!)

There’s a little bit of chocolate madness going on right now over at Cupcake Royale so let me break it down for you.

You can get your sweet hands on death by chocolate three different ways:

1. Baby Deathcake Royale – a selfish two-bite treat; The new recipe features sea-salted chocolate decadence, Stumptown espresso cookie crust and Theo milk chocolate ganache. Don’t miss out – Available through February 16th only!
2. Deathcake Royale 3-pack – same as the Baby, but packaged up to gift and share. Only available through February 16th!
3. Deathcake Royale Originale – aka the original Mack-Daddy of the Deathcake Family weighing in at 1/3 pound treat that launched Deathcake 10 years ago! The new recipe packs a powerful bite. Rich sea salted dark chocolate flourless cake is folded over a delicious, melt-in-your mouth chocolate Stumptown espresso cookie and sumptuously glazed with Theo Chocolate ganache. It comes wearing a chocolate Royale crown. Decadence? You bet! They brought back The Originale for two days only (this Thursday and Friday). Pre-order to get yours! At all cafes and online as well as Metropolitan Market. It’s $6.65 – just a penny under evil!

Bring on the love as they say and make way for Deathcake this Valentine’s Day.

You can also sling Cupid’s arrow with Cupcake Royale’s Cupcake Grams. These whimsical cards are available in books of 6 in all cafes and online. Each Cupcake Gram can be personalized with a thank you message for someone special.

They are also bringing back the popular E-Grams, emailable Valentines that you can personalize and send for fun. These Valentine’s cards are good for one free cupcake at any of Cupcake Royale’s 7 cafes in Seattle. See these adorable E-Grams at http://sharelovecupcakeroyale.com/

And if all that is not enough to get encourage you to get your sweet tooth on, Cupcake Royale has one more treat in store for you! Pre-Order for Valentine’s Day and your next dozen is 50% off!

Choose from February’s most delectable cupcake flavors that will surely make your sweetie swoon including: Hilliard’s Smokin’ Stout, Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake, Nut ‘n’ Honey, and Strawberry Champagne. Available for delivery, and pre-order a dozen or more, and receive a 50 percent off coupon for your next visit.

How sweet is that?

Land of the Sweets – The Burlesque Nutcracker

Tags

burlesque, Burlesque Nutcracker, dinner theatre, Groupon Seattle, holidays, Land of the Sweets, Lilly Verlaine & Jasper McCann, Seattle, Triple Door

This season I feel like I have had very little time for enjoying the full holiday experience. But last night I slowed down just long enough to drive around and see some Christmas lights, and last week I attended the one holiday show that I just could not miss.

I recently wrote about local dinner theatre options on Groupon and made mention of Lily Verlaine & Jasper McCann Presents’ great production, Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker, performing at the Triple Door in Seattle.

What a fun alternative to your traditional holiday excursion! If you want something a little different this holiday season you must go! (It just might become a new tradition for you!)

But hurry! Tickets are going fast and many performances are selling out.

WHAT:

Lily Verlaine & Jasper McCann Presents…

Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker

Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann return to Seattle’s illustrious Triple Door for their 8th annual installment of Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker. A spectacle of pageantry, this year’s production will delight the newcomer and surprise return visitors to the Land of the Sweets. New cast members formerly of Spectrum Dance Theater and Ballet Bellevue make the dancing even hotter, and fashion enthusiasts will get a chance to see the famous “Stargazer” Dress created for Lily Verlaine’s performance at The Burlesque Hall of Fame.

WHERE:

The Triple Door

126 Union Street, Seattle

WHEN:

Through December 28, 2013:

Select Monday, 7:00pm (17+) and 10:00pm (21+)

Select Tuesdays, 7:00pm (17+) and 10:00pm (21+)

Select Tuesday, 5:00pm (17+) – Christmas Eve

Wednesday, 7:00pm (17+) and 10:00pm (21+)

Thursdays, 7:00pm (17+) and 10:00pm (21+)

Fridays, 7:00pm (17+) and 10:30pm (21+)

Saturdays, 7:00pm (17+) and 10:30pm (21+)

Sundays, 2:00pm (17+), 6:00pm (17+), 9:00pm (21+)

TICKETS:

$32.50-$57.50

General – $32.50-$47.50

VIP Seating – $42.50-$57.50

Box Office: 206-838-4333

Online Box Office here (www.LandoftheSweets.com)

PNWSwap – Christmas Swap

Tags

Bits of Sweetness blog, box swaps, Christmas, Gift Giving, Mail, PNWSwaps, Seattle

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind for me. It is almost Christmas but it feels like it was just Thanksgiving. I guess that short season everyone is talking about really does have an effect!

In the midst of all the craziness the last couple of weeks I was so lucky to have received a package from my swap match from PNWSwaps, Khristena of Just One Grain blog.

It actually took me several days before I opened it and went through to see what I had received from Khristena.

And boy, was I excited to see all the goodies inside!

Love these snowflake ornaments – right up my alley. And a snowflake bowl to match!

How did she know that serving dishes are a big hit with me!

I’m saving these fun, colorful blowers for New Year’s! Thank you so much Khristena!

Here’s how the box swap works: all you do is sign up, tell a bit about what kinds of things you like and you are matched up randomly with another local person. You then do a bit of shopping, send your package out by the deadline and wait to receive yours.

Laura holds frequent box swaps here in the Northwest, so if you would like to join in the fun (anyone can participate – as long as you are local) in the next box swap, go and find out more here.

Here is a picture of the contents of the box I sent out to Tiffany of the Thyme of Taste blog – I had SO much fun shopping! It’s really amazing what you can get for $20.

Hope you enjoyed your package as much as I enjoyed putting together, Tiffany! Happy Holidays!